Pakistan Stars Climb ICC T20I Rankings After Series Win

Pakistan’s players saw sharp movement in the ICC T20I rankings following their clean sweep over the West Indies in the recent three-match series. Young talents and seasoned campaigners alike earned ranking boosts with eye-catching performances.

Muqeem Rockets Up the Bowling Charts

Fast bowler Sufiyan Muqeem made the biggest leap, soaring 69 places to 34th in the bowling rankings. His stellar wickets made all the difference in crucial moments and earned him 542 rating points—drawing attention to his rising potential.

In the same category, Mohammad Nawaz climbed 51 places to 56th. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s pace spearhead Haris Rauf retained his top spot among the domestic bowlers at 26th with 575 points. Young Abbas Afridi slipped three spots to 27th, while Shaheen Afridi dipped one spot to 36th.

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Batters Move Upward After Strong Series

The top-order batsman Saim Ayub lit up the series with 130 runs, including two fifties. As a result, he surged 25 places to 37th in the batting rankings.

Middle-order batsman Hassan Nawaz scored 79 runs and jumped 24 places to 30th position. Sahibzada Farhan impressed too; his 91 runs led to a dramatic rise of 34 spots to 63rd spot with 484 points.

Captain and Veterans Show Stability

Captain Salman Ali Agha led from the front and moved up 15 places to 76th. Experienced opener Fakhar Zaman climbed three spots to reach 78th. Both players delivered steady performances at pivotal moments.

However, some established players lost ground due to inactivity. Babar Azam, out of T20Is since 2024, dropped three places to 17th. Mohammad Rizwan also lost three spots, sliding to 19th. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris fell steeply from recent struggles, losing 21 places to land at 86th.

All-Rounders See Mixed Results

In the all-rounders’ column, Saim Ayub soared an astonishing 70 places to 24th position, scoring 119 rating points thanks to his dual contributions with bat and ball.

Mohammad Nawaz added 13 spots to reach 36th. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan dropped two places to 19th. Abbas Afridi and Iftikhar Ahmed also slipped down in rankings. India’s Hardik Pandya maintained his lead in this category, while Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee holds second and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi sits third.

Global Rankings at a Glance

New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy remains the No. 1 ranked bowler, followed by England’s Adil Rashid at second. West Indies’ Akeal Hosein climbed to third, displacing India’s Varun Chakaravarthy.

Batting and fielding benchmarks remain dominated by global stars, but Pakistan’s recent jumps signal a deepening bench and promising future.

Why the Rise Matters

Pakistan’s dominant series victory over the West Indies has injected fresh energy into the team’s T20I setup. Emerging players like Muqeem, Ayub, and Nawaz are staking their claim for long-term inclusion. Their rapid ascent reflects not only potential but rising consistency.

These surges also provide confidence ahead of bigger tournaments. As the ICC calendar unfolds, ranking points are vital for qualification scenarios and squad selection.

What Lies Ahead

The next T20I series provides a chance to consolidate gains. Players off the pace—like Babar and Rizwan—need to return to impact games to recover ranking ground. Meanwhile, fast bowlers like Shaheen, Rauf, and Afridi must maintain form to keep climbing.

Pakistan’s selectors will watch Ayub, Muqeem, and Nawaz closely. Continued performance could see them cement key roles in the upcoming Asia Cup and World T20.

With fresh momentum and a deepening talent pool, recent ranking shifts underscore how Pakistan’s T20I squad is evolving. Fans and cricket analysts alike now have new names to follow as the team builds toward upcoming global showdowns.